IQAC - Best Practices

Best Practices of the Institution*

Use of Electronic and Computer Technology in academics and administration

Green Campus Initiative

Title of Practice: Use of Electronic and Computer Technology in academics and administration

Goal

• To develop / enhance competencies in teaching, learning and research.
• To improve academics by using web based information
• Improvement in teaching and learning using web based infrastructure such as Google Apps for Education.
• To increase the efficiency of team work by increasing effective communication

The Context

Students come from various socio-economic backgrounds with little or no access to Information Communication technology (ICT) for learning. The use of ICT by the college has positive impact on learning experience. The importance of ICT lies in focusing individual student, teacher and thus improving overall teaching learning experience. It helps to develop aptitude from descriptive to analytical, from academic to practical and to decide the future career goals. 

The Practice

• Every department of the college has received laptops and projector for conducting lecture, practical sessions and seminars.
• Internet facility is provided to all departments of the college.
• College website is developed for presenting activities of college related to academics, administration, research and student support services
• Use of Google Apps for Education for online quiz, filling up forms, making spreadsheets and power point presentations etc. Online examination software Quiz Fire is used by Department of Electronic Science to conduct internal examination.
• Library makes use of advance technologies to access online reference databases
  • Teachers and students have direct access to INFLIBNET facility of UGC
  • Web OPAC – Adequate provision of computers has been done to refer OPAC with proper instructions. Students extensively use this OPAC to locate the required book and they do not require any manual help. It saves their time.
• The college has digital library through which the staff and students get easy access to e-material.
• Digital record room enables the administrative staff to maintain the records and helps easy and quick access of records.
• Virtual classroom: virtual classroom facility is made available with online audio-video recording system, enabling interactive sessions with eminent professors and scientists.
• Digital classrooms: In digital classroom ‘Mi board’ is installed which enables to teach interactive sessions including audio-video, drawing objects, recording lectures. The college has installed five digital classrooms.
• Wi-Fi connectivity on college campus
• Mobile jammer in Library Reading hall
• ICT in sports : Live matches are recorded and those are replayed in Gymkhana department for the players to learn the tactics, to understand and avoid the mistakes during play and to improve their performance.
• ICT in Languages: Independent Language laboratory with necessary software
• ICT In Social Sciences: Collection of educational videos
• ICT in Geography : GIS mapping
• ICT in Commerce : SPSS , Tally
• ICT in Sciences
  • Most of the advanced instruments in laboratories are aided with Computer and internet facility
  • Dedicated Bioinformatics laboratory for bioinformatics study
  • Mathematics and Statistics laboratories are equipped with advanced software such as Metlab, ‘R’ Software, Algorithm software, Problem solving software, Modeling and simulation software
  • Animation laboratories have software such as Maya, Flash, Adobe Acrobat, photoshop.

Evidence of Success

• Lectures
  • Teachers are using ICT facility for preparation and presentation of lectures.
  • ICT facility is provided for guest lectures
  • Lecture notes, references, information is exchanged between teachers and students using ICT
• Practical sessions
  • The ICT facility is used for demonstration of practical sessions and their standardization.
  • Google Apps for Education
• The students and teachers use official email IDs to exchange the information.
• The online software helps to organize various tasks in teaching and learning.
• ICT in sports: increase in medals and championship in gymkhana department.
• ICT in languages –
• Significant increase in the interest of the students in learning foreign languages is observed because of the specialization implemented in the subject.
• The quality of home assignment and projects has increased because of access to digital library and electronic resources.
• The employability of the students has increased.
• The students design, Program and evaluate elementary tasks in regular Lectures, practicals and Projects using computers. 
• The number of publications in national and international journals, poster presentations in State, National / International conferences has increased because of ICT facility.
• The students access various educational websites and online examinations for preparation of various competitive examinations

Problems Encountered and Resources Required

• Technical Problems related to presentation
  • Antivirus upgradation.
  • High speed internet.
• Computers to Students ratio: The college has 404 desktops. The computer-student ratio is 1:11.
• Orientation of staff and students for using advanced technology.
• Encouragement for more applications of ICT
• The number of virtual classroom should be increased.
• Advanced software and hardware should be purchased for subjects such as Bioinformatics / Animations / Graphics / Modeling and Simulations
• Robotics and feedback devices
• Need of ICT for Drama and Music

Title of Practice: Green Campus Initiative

Goal

• To increase environmental awareness among students, staff of the college and among population in the vicinity of the college.
• To minimize the environmental pollution in and around college campus.
• To minimize the use of PMC water resources by installing wastewater recycling plant and rain harvesting plant.
• To use renewable energy resource particularly solar and wind energy .
• To establish Bio-gas plant for the disposal of wet garbage this can be used as fuel source to the college canteen.
• To study and maintain biodiversity of campus.
• To quantify carbon foot print and find out solutions to minimize it.
• To support and implement ‘Swach Bharat Aabhiyan’.

The Context

Clean environment is the basic necessity for human being for health and efficiency. Mostly limited availability of public transport compelled increased use of personal vehicles which is one of the reasons to increase pollution in and around campus.  Chemical experimentation in the college laboratories emits green house gases (GHG). It adds to the environmental pollution. Water is scarce natural resource hence needs to be used rationally. Solar energy can be the potential replacement for conventional electricity.

The Practice

The Green Campus Initiative practices are as follows:

Green Audit :

College consulted Dr. Sunil D. Kulkarni for quantifying the green house gas (GHG) emitted on the campus for the academic year  2014-2015. The green audit report is prepared by adhering to the standards provided by ISO/DIS 14067, 2012 and report was submitted in July 2015. The GHG quantification is done in terms of carbon foot prints (CFP). The carbon foot prints are expressed as Carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂e). Twenty nine departments of the college were audited for the emission of GHG directly or indirectly.

Biodiversity audit :

The Biodiversity audit was conducted for our college during the period from May 2015 to June 2015. The report of “Biodiversity Assessment of Modern Educational Campus, Shivajinagar” was submitted to College authorities.

The study was conducted as a rapid biodiversity survey and systematic photo-documentation as per the directives given by the Principal, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce Pune-05. Hence present study can be considered as a snap-shot of biodiversity of the Modern Educational Campus area. Systematic documentation coupled with measures for enhancement and protection will prove to be a prudent step towards ‘environment protection and green initiative.

The site visits and the collected database showed following key findings for the Biodiversity Assessment of Modern College Pune.

Biodiversity study mainly refers to the assessment of biodiversity of Modern college campus. This has also been referred to as survey of Modern Educational campus

Key findings :

• A total of 107 species of flora were observed during the biodiversity survey of the Modern Educational Campus.
• 13 species of birds were observed during the survey.

10 species of butterflies were seen.

• 2 species of mammals, 1amphibian specie and 1mollusc species was recorded.
• 3 IUCN listed species of conservation significance were recorded in the survey.

Results :

The results of the biodiversity survey are as following:

• The campus demonstrated the presence of more than 15 species of flora which have been listed under the IUCN Red list.
• Out of these 15 species of plants, 3 species, namely Pterocarpus marsupium (Bibala), Santalum album (Chandan) and Jacaranda mimosifolia (Neelmohar) are listed under the Vulnerable Category of IUCN Red list.
• On similar lines, 11 bird species, 2 mammal species and 1 amphibian species have been listed under the IUCN Red list.

Nameplates on trees.

Trees are an integral part of human life. To create awareness among people about botanical name, common name, plant family and significance of these trees we have undertaken a program to label the road side trees near college campus.

In Nov-2008, nearly 800 tress along the road sides of J.M. Road, F.C. Road, Modern college Road were identified and nameplates were displayed on tree trunks. During 2013-14 and 2014-15 nearly 350 road side trees along Ghole road and Apte Road were identified and name plates were displayed on tree trunks.

Biomedical Waste Disposal :

Biomedical waste generated by life science departments of our college is collected periodically by the PASCO Environmental Solution Pvt. Ltd. for its proper disposal. Our college has signed MoU with the firm. This company is registered with Pune Municipal Corporation to treat biomedical waste by various treatments. The company has issued a certificate to that effect for the period 3/12/2014 to 2/12/2015.

e-waste Management

From 2012 Department of Electronic Science has set in motion the issue of e-waste management. Due to advancement in technology, number of electronic gadgets are manufactured and marketed. These products become outdated after few months.Due to less utility these products are discarded and updated versions are adopted. Since these products contain some kinds of hazardous materials such as lead, zinc, lithium batteries, tin etc. Improper disposal of these products is dangerous for living beings. Therefore management of e-waste is very important issue. e-waste management can be done by number of ways such as reduce, reuse and recycle. Our college has therefore taken lead and had organized a national conference ‘Hazardous e-Waste Management’ on the same topic. Thus contributing to creating awareness in the society and minimizing the hazardous effects of e-waste. 

Furthermore, our college also conducted a campaign in rural area and Pune city area. A survey is carried by NSS volunteers in the village Phulgaon.  A rally was organised in this village and volunteers visited the families to explain concept of e-waste management and collected the data. Students from T.Y.B.Sc. carried out survey for e-waste management through college research scheme of ‘Yuva Sanshodhak’. In December 2013 National Conference on ‘Hazardous e-Waste Management’ was organized by our college. It is proposed to establish e-waste collection and systematic disposal process through Post Graduate research centre in Electronic Science.

Biodegradable Urban Waste management

Since January 2010, Department of Zoology is conducting the Integrated Vermitechnology Training Course (IVTC) in collaboration with a renowned organization ‘INORA’ (Institute of Natural Organic Agriculture), Pune. Two batches are conducted per year. Students and general citizens enthusiastically participate in this training course.

Use of Renewable Energy

Two solar panels with 1 KW capacity have been installed at roof top. Using these solar panels we are lighting 25 lamps which are installed in staircase of East wing and 12 lamps in principal’s office. The backup of this system is about 6 hours per day.

Solar Distillation Plant having distillation capacity 25 lit. per day is also installed. Department of Physics has taken initiative in starting renewable energy course as one of the specialized course at T. Y. B. Sc. and also planning to start Renewable Energy as a specialization course for M. Sc.

Microscale experiments in Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry is practicing microscale technique in Analytical Chemistry Practicals. For this purpose special glassware are procured such as Pasteur pipette, Hickman Head, Hirch funnel and Special microscale methods such as double burette titration are adopted. This method reduces the volume of solutions required to about one fourth of that in the traditional method.

Energy audit:

Energy Audit of consumption of electricity in the College was entrusted to ‘Enrich Consultants’ Pune. The objectives of the audit includes study the energy consumption pattern of the facilities, identify the areas where potential for energy/cost saving exists and prepare proposals for energy/cost saving along with investment and payback periods.

We have implemented no cost and low cost recommendations according to the guidelines given in Save Energy Program of MEDA.

Energy Audit also gives focused attention to energy cost and cost involved in achieving higher performance with technical and financial analysis.  The best alternative is selected on financial analysis basis.

Following  Energy Efficiency Improvement measures were implemented by the college.

• Automatic Power Factor Correction systems were installed for main building, east wing and administrative building.
• Energy Saver Circuits were installed for old air conditioners
• Replacing Conventional Ballasts for Fluorescent Tube Lights (FTL) with Electronic Ballasts
• Replacing Tube Lights (FTL) with LED Tube Lights
• Providing Solar PV system for part load operations during day time
  • Total savings during the energy audit is estimated at 10.10 Lakhs which is 23 % of the total energy cost with an overall payback period of 3 Years.
• Rain water harvesting
• Sewage treatment
• Biogas plant near canteen
• Digital herbarium
• Animal dissection simulation
• Zero garbage campus
• e-Governance
• Digital library

Evidence of Success

• Electricity failure will not affect the availability of light during the period of power cut by MSEB due to solar system installation. Especially eastern building gets the benefit.
• Electricity bills are reduced and we have achieved 91 power factor for the 7% discount in the electricity bill.
• The college is running vermitechnology training programme since last five years.
• Continuous water supply is available even during the period of water scarcity.
• Problem of disposal of garbage is solved by Bio-gas plant.

Problems Encountered and Resources Required

These activities have been initiated based on the available funds and those could be further enhanced upon receiving funding for the same.